Linear motor cooling system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes an electric machine. The electric machine includes an internal housing, an armature coil disposed within the internal housing and separated from the internal housing by a gap, and a magnetic core associated with the armature coil. The apparatus also includes a fan configured to cause air to flow in the gap between the armature coil and the internal housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/339,786 filed Dec. 29, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A linear motor is an electric motor that generates a linear force along its length. The operation of such motors generates a significant amount of heat. Because many of the components of a linear motor, including, in particular, the armature coils and associated magnetic cores, are sensitive to temperature, cooling systems are provided to avoid a deterioration in motor performance.

Referring to FIG. 1, one approach to cooling a linear motor 100 is to place a heat sink 102 on either side of the motor. Heat generated during the operation of motor 100 is removed by conduction into heat sink 102. A fan bank 104 cools heat sink 102, thus dispersing the heat into the surrounding atmosphere and cooling motor 100.

SUMMARY

In a general aspect, an apparatus includes an electric machine. The electric machine includes an internal housing, an armature coil disposed within the internal housing and separated from the internal housing by a gap, and a magnetic core associated with the armature coil. The apparatus also includes a fan configured to cause air to flow in the gap between the armature coil and the internal housing.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following.

The air flow in the gap causes cooling of at least one of the armature coil and the magnetic core.

The fan is configured to blow air directly across the armature coil

The apparatus further includes a plurality of fans. An arrangement of the plurality of fans is determined to maximize at least one of flow velocity through the electric machine and heat transfer between the air and the armature coil.

The fan is configured to cause turbulent air flow in the gap.

A size of the gap is selected to cause turbulent air flow in the gap. A size of the gap is selected to maximize heat transfer between the air and the armature coil.

The armature coil is a first armature coil and the magnetic core is a first magnetic core; and further comprising: a second armature coil adjacent to the first armature coil, the first armature coil separated from the second armature coil by a first coil gap; and a second magnetic core associated with the second armature coil. The fan is configured to cause air to flow in the first coil gap.

The apparatus further includes a third armature coil; and a fourth armature coil adjacent to the third armature coil, the third armature coil separated from the fourth armature coil by a second coil gap. The fan is configured to cause air to flow in the second coil gap.

The electric machine is an electromagnetic motor.

The apparatus further includes an inlet port is disposed on a first end of the electric machine, the fan disposed in the inlet port; and an exhaust port disposed on a second end of the electric machine opposite the inlet port.

In another general aspect, a method includes providing an electric machine. The electric machine includes an internal housing, an armature coil disposed within the internal housing and separated from the internal housing by a gap, and a magnetic core associated with the armature coil. The method further includes causing air to flow in the gap between the armature coil and the internal housing.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following.

Causing air to flow in the gap causes cooling of at least one of the armature coil and the magnetic core. Causing air to flow in the gap comprises blowing air directly across the armature coil. Causing air to flow in the gap causes turbulent air flow in the gap.

The method further includes determining a size of the gap in order to cause turbulent air flow in the gap. The method further includes determining a size of the gap in order to maximize heat transfer between the air and the armature coil.

Among other advantages, the systems described herein have fewer parts and are less complex than conventional motor cooling systems and thus can be implemented for lower cost. Gaps between armature coils within the motor allow for high cooling efficiency without compromising motor performance, such as the output force of the motor. The ability to cool the motor more efficiently allows the motor to be fabricated with conventional, lower cost lamination steel rather than higher grade steel, thus further reducing the fabrication cost of the motor.

Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art motor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a motor cooled by forced air cooling.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of internal components of the motor of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is a cut-away perspective view of the internal components of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B is a cut-away front view of the internal components of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4C is a cut-away side view of the internal components of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a linear motor 200 outputs a linear force along its length (denoted as the x-axis). Motor 200 is formed of an external housing 201 which houses an internal body 203. Referring also to FIGS. 4A-4C, the internal body 203 includes four armature coils 202 a, 202 b, 202 c, 202 d, each with an associated magnetic core 204 a, 204 b, 204 c, 204 d, respectively. In operation, motor 200 generates a significant amount of heat, primarily from current flowing through the armature coils 202. The performance of the motor components, and in particular the magnetic cores 204, decreases with increasing motor temperature.

A forced air, convection cooling system is employed to dissipate the heat generated by motor 200. In particular, a fan bank 206 is positioned at an inlet 208 on a front face 210 of the motor. Fan bank 206 includes one or more fans 212 that blow air directly into the interior of motor 200. The air flow is generally along the length of armature coils 202 (i.e., along the x-axis) and serves to cool the armature coils and associated magnetic cores 204. Motor 200 is designed with a straight flow-through design in which flow restrictions, such as turns, bends, or large changes in cross-sectional area, are minimized. This unobstructed design allows air to flow through the motor at high velocity, which provides a high heat transfer coefficient between the air and the motor components. The air exits the motor via an exhaust port 216 on a rear face 218 of the motor. In some embodiments, a filter 219 is positioned at inlet 208 prior to fan bank 206 and serves to filter the air that is drawn into the motor, thus avoiding contamination of the motor components.

In the interior of motor 200, open space is provided to facilitate air flow across armature coils 202 and magnetic cores 204. Gaps 222-228 adjacent to the armature coils 202 allow a large fraction of the surface area of the armature coils to be exposed to the circulating air, facilitating heat transfer from the coils to the air. In particular, a central gap 222 a separates armature coils 202 a and 202 b, and a central gap 222 b separates armature coils 202 c and 202 d. Upper gaps 224 a and 224 b separate armature coils 202 a and 202 c, respectively, from the top of an internal housing 220. Lower gaps 226 a and 226 b separate armature coils 202 b and 202 d, respectively, from the bottom of housing 220. Side gaps 228 a, 228 b, 228 c, and 228 d separate armature coils 202 a, 202 b, 202 c, and 202 d, respectively, from a central support core 229 of the housing 220.

High velocity air flow enhances the heat transfer coefficient between the armature coils 202 and the circulating air. The volume of space available for air flow (i.e., the size and geometry of the gaps) affects the system impedance to air flow and thus influences the velocity of the air passing through the motor. The air flow velocity is also dependent upon the performance of fan bank 206, as well as on environmental factors such as temperature and air density.

The heat transfer coefficient is maximized for turbulent air flow through the motor. Turbulent air flow can be achieved by causing air of sufficiently high velocity to flow in gaps 222-228, which is effected by optimizing the fan arrangement and performance and the gap geometry. However, cost and manufacturing considerations dictate that a motor of smaller volume and with a minimum number of fans is desirable. Thus, in practice, the gap geometry and fan arrangement are determined via an iterative process which aims to both maximize the heat transfer coefficient and minimize manufacturing cost. The amount of heat dissipated by the armature coils 202 is generally known. Factors such as the maximum allowable operating temperature of the armature coils 202 and magnets 204, the properties of the fluid (i.e., the circulating air) at the operating temperature, the airflow impedance of the motor, the fan performance curves, and the fan arrangement and cost are used as parameters in a model of the motor and cooling system. The design of the motor is determined to optimize the performance of the cooling system.

As an example, given the heat dissipation by the armature coils 202, the maximum ambient temperature, and an understanding of the temperature limitations of the coils and magnets, the heat transfer coefficient that is sufficient to limit the temperatures of sensitive motor components can be calculated. Because the heat transfer coefficient is a function of the properties of the fluid, the flow velocity, and the flow geometry, it is possible to iterate a motor design in order to optimize the design for performance and cost. For instance, reducing the gap between the coils increases the impedance of the motor to air flow; to compensate for the increased impedance, the fan performance is increased to produce sufficient velocity to achieve the desired heat transfer coefficient. A larger gap between the coils will lower the air flow impedance but generally necessitates higher air flow rates to obtain the desired heat transfer coefficient. Thus, in general, an iterative process using motor impedance (i.e., geometry and/or gap size), fan performance, and cost as variables is employed to optimize the design of the motor.

As an example, a motor designed based on such an iterative process produces 7.5 kN of force output and dissipates about 1.8 kW of heat through its four armature coils, or 450 Watts per coil. The gaps above and between the coils are 10 mm. The motor has external dimensions of 44.5 cm×27.2 cm×43.7 cm and weighs approximately 95 kg.

The arrangement of gaps 222-228 is also subject to maintaining suitable magnetic performance of the motor components. In a conventional motor with no gaps between the armature coils, the magnet transition line (i.e., the N-to-S magnetic orientation change) is aligned with the centers of the pole faces. In a motor with gaps between the coils, this alignment of the magnet transition line is maintained. Furthermore, the inclusion of the gaps between the armature coils increases the distance between the poles but continues to keep the magnetic transition distance aligned with the pole face centers.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a linear motor disposed to generate a linear force, the linear motor including: a first armature coil associated with a first magnetic core and disposed within an internal housing; a second armature coil associated with a second magnetic core and disposed within the internal housing; and a central support core extending from a top of the internal housing to a bottom of the internal housing and disposed between the first armature coil and the second armature coil; wherein the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core extend from the central support core, and the central support core defines a first side gap separating the first armature coil from the central support core and a second side gap separating the second armature coil from the central support core.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the top of the internal housing and the first armature coil define a first upper gap allowing air to flow along a length of the first armature coil, and a second portion of the top of the internal housing and the second armature coil define a second upper gap allowing air to flow along a length of the second armature coil.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a third armature coil associated with a third magnetic core and disposed within the internal housing adjacent to the first armature coil; and a fourth armature coil associated with a fourth magnetic core and disposed within the internal housing adjacent to the second armature coil; wherein the central support core is disposed between the third armature coil and the fourth armature coil.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a first portion of the bottom of the internal housing and the third armature coil define a first lower gap allowing air to flow along a length of the third armature coil, and a second portion of the bottom of the internal housing and the fourth armature coil define a second lower gap allowing air to flow along a length of the fourth armature coil.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a portion of the first armature coil and a portion of the third armature coil define a first central gap between the first armature coil and the third armature coil, and wherein a portion of the second armature coil and a portion of the fourth armature coil define a second central gap between the second armature coil and the fourth armature coil.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the central support core further defines a third side gap separating the third armature coil from the central support core and a fourth side gap separating the fourth armature coil from the central support core.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third side gap is configured to allow air to flow in contact with the third magnetic core and the fourth side gap is configured to allow air to flow in contact with the fourth magnetic core.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third side gap and the fourth side gap are configured to allow air to flow in a direction substantially parallel to the linear force of the linear motor.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side gap is configured to allow air to flow in contact with the first magnetic core and the second side gap is configured to allow air to flow in contact with the second magnetic core.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side gap and the second side gap are configured to allow air to flow in a direction substantially parallel to the linear force of the linear motor. 